Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 235th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (14-20 August, 2011), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

1. Last night Jack Straw declared war on me. by Richard Morris on A View from Ham Common.
Jack Straw barks up the wrong tree.

2. I think Chris Huhne has had it now by Lisa Harding on Welcome to Spiderplant Land.
Lisa speculates on the speculation…

3. My mind has just well and truly been blown – 14 year old girls arriving at court with no parents by Paul Walter on Liberal Burblings.
Paul can’t believe it.

4. SNP MSP withdraws homophobic “Nazi slur” by Andrew Page on A Scottish Liberal.
On Bill Walker’s “intemperate” comments.

5. Does being a Lib Dem mean my kids shouldn’t be made to pick up litter in the street? by Richard Morris on A View from Ham Common.
“While I’m not a fan (understatement) of the reintroduction of National Service, I can’t get nearly so worked up about the notion of a period of compulsory community service for young people,” writes Richard.

6. The pathetic Facebook riot organisers by Paul Walter on Liberal Burblings.
…Because social networks are public.

7. The problem with Centre Forum’s “five-a-day” parenting campaign by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
How to go beyond the prescription, wonders Jonathan.

And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted. These are normally chosen using the LibDig bookmarking website for party members, the site where you can highlight blog-posts you want to share with your fellow Lib Dems. Remember, though, you’re still more than welcome to nominate for the Golden Dozen a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days – your own, or someone else’s – using the steam-powered method of e-mail … all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected].

8. Prepostorous ideas in a time of tension don’t work by Lisa Harding on Welcome to Spiderplant Land.
“Spidey skewers the stupidity and injustice of removing benefits and/or council housing from rioters.” (Submitted by Niklas Smith via LibDig.)

9. What else did Nick get asked in London last week? And more to the point – how did he answer? by Richard Morris on A View from Ham Common.
“Nick had a Q&A with London party members last week. This is what he was asked and how he answered.” (Submitted by Richard Morris via LibDig.)

10. After the riots – A liberal response by Matthew Gibson on Solution Focused Politics.
“Liberalism is very relevant to this debate and has some distinctive answers which the Tories and Labour will not dare speak. We should be brave enough to advocate for it.” (Submitted by MatthewJ via LibDig.)

11. Can Liberalism Survive? on Maureen Rigg’s blog.
“We don’t automatically trust every stranger we meet to look after our house, our children or our money without some kind of checks. We don’t assume that everyone is a saint. But please, don’t let us go the other way and assume everyone is a criminal with the worst possible intentions,” writes Maureen.

12. Jo Swinson and Stephen Williams show what Liberal Democrats are for by Caron Lindsay on Caron’s Musings.
“An integral part of Liberal Democrat DNA is a positive belief in human nature and the capacity of human beings to change and develop positively in the right circumstances.”

That’s it for another week. Happy blogging ‘n’ reading ‘n’ nominating.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to send in your nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011.

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